argon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the chemical element with symbol Ar and atomic number 18, a colorless, odorless, largely unreactive noble gas that forms about 0.93 percent of Earth's atmosphere

   Welders use argon to shield hot metal from oxygen in the surrounding air.

From Greek argon, the neuter of argos ("idle, inactive"), from a- ("not") + ergon ("work"). Lord Rayleigh and William Ramsay chose the name after identifying the element in 1894 because the gas appeared chemically inactive.

Topics